Employer Preferences
You are able to change the order in which you rank your employers and you can even delete one of your preferred employers if you wish. To do this, you’ll need to email the nursing@acenz.net.nz asking us to update your preferences for you. You cannot add new employers to your preference list after applications close.
As part of the Mid-Year process, positions are available from some Health New Zealand districts across New Zealand, typically just the large and medium sized Health New Zealand districts. Successful candidates for this intake will commence their employment from August - September, however, start dates will vary between employers. ACE recommends applicants speak with employers directly to identify when positions will likely commence for these employers.
As part of the End of Year process, positions are available from all employers across New Zealand. Successful candidates for this intake will commence their employment late January to mid-February however, start dates will vary between employers. ACE recommends applicants speak with employers directly to identify when positions will likely commence for these employers.
You can find a link to their career pages in the Employer Contact Information section. The number of vacancies for each employer will only be advertised on each employer's webpage and is not the responsibility of ACE.
- Health New Zealand - Te Toka Tumai Auckland
- Health New Zealand - Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty
- Health New Zealand - Waitaha Canterbury
- Health New Zealand - Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley
- Health New Zealand - Counties Manukau
- Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa) - Northland, Auckland, Midland, Taranaki/Whanganui&Manawatū, Wellington, Southern
- Evolution Healthcare - Wellington, Hawke’s Bay (Hastings), Waikato (Hamilton)
- Health New Zealand - Te Matau a Māui Hawke's Bay
- Health New Zealand - Lakes
- Health New Zealand - Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua MidCentral
- Health New Zealand - Nelson Marlborough
- Health New Zealand - Te Tai Tokerau, Northland
- Ryman Healthcare - Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Southern
- Health New Zealand - South Canterbury
- Southern Cross Hospitals - Auckland Region, Midland Region, Southern Region (Christchurch), Central Region, New Plymouth Region, Invercargill
- Health New Zealand - Southern
- Health New Zealand - Tairāwhiti
- Health New Zealand - Taranaki
- Health New Zealand - Waikato
- Health New Zealand - Wairarapa
- Health New Zealand - Waitemata
- Health New Zealand - Te Tai o Poutini West Coast
- Health New Zealand - Whanganui
Practice Settings
Once you have chosen your preference of employer you will need to select up to five practice settings or areas of specialist practice. The 19 practice settings that are available have been nationally agreed by key ACE stakeholders. If there are sub-specialties you know you would like to practice in, for example, please highlight this in your cover letter as employers pay close attention to your cover letter for information regarding your practice setting preferences.
For each employer selected, you should make every effort to explain the reasons why you have chosen your Practice settings and why you have set these in your order of 1/2/3/4/5. After applications close you can no longer change your practice setting preferences.
List of Practice Settings
- Aged Residential Care
- Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation
- Cardiac Care (Includes Coronary Care Units and Cardiothoracic)
- Disability Health
- District Nursing
- Emergency & Trauma
- Health of Older People Within the DHB
- Intensive Care (Includes High Dependency)
- Medical
- Mental Health & Addictions (NESP)
- Neonatal
- Oncology
- Paediatrics, Child Health and Youth Health
- Perioperative Care (Theatre)
- Primary Health Care (Including Practice Nursing, GP Clinics, Accident & Medical Centres, Iwi Providers, Pacific Providers, School Nursing, Well Child Providers, Plunket, NGO's and Hospice)
- Public Health Nursing
- Rural Health
- Surgical
- Woman's Health
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Expected Vacancies
Employers are encouraged to advertise their expected vacancies available to applicants on their individual career websites and also indicate the practice settings which these positions are likely to be in. This information should be made available on their NETP websites the day prior to applications for the intake open.
ACE makes every effort to ensure that employers have this information available for applicants on their websites however, ACE cannot take responsibility for ensuring that this information is current and updated by each employer.
You should also check this page from time to time as ACE updates Employer Information Sheets in PDF format for you to download.
If you are not clear about the practice settings offered by your preferred employers, please contact the relevant NETP coordinators. Employer contact information and career websites can be found in the Employer Information section on the ACE Website.
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Voluntary Bonding Scheme
The Voluntary Bonding Scheme is an incentive based payment scheme that has been introduced by the Government to reward nursing graduates who agree to work in hard-to-staff communities and/or specialties. For more information on the practice settings that are eligible for the Voluntary Bonding Scheme please click here.
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Applying to Southern Cross Healthcare
Applying to Southern Cross Instructions
When completing your ACE application you will be asked to preference the employer(s) you wish to apply to. Southern Cross Healthcare regions will show as options in the drop down box along with the Te Whatu Ora disticts taking part in the intake. Southern Cross Healthcare will be separated into 5 regions to include Auckland, Midland (BoP, Rotorua & Waikato), New Plymouth, Central and Southern and each region will cover multiple sites. For more information about the regional hospitals participating in this intake please refer to the Vacancy and Positions Information section of the ACE Website or the Southern Cross Healthcare website.
Practice Settings for Southern Cross Healthcare
Southern Cross Healthcare will only be offering a NETP programme. If you are interested in a NESP position you will need to do your research on which DHBs have NESP vacancies for the intake. Southern Cross Healthcare will offer positions in Perioperative (Theatre) and Surgical practice settings. These practice settings are available to select in the drop down section of your application in the preferences section. If you are interested in working for the Southern Cross Healthcare, you should choose Perioperative and/or Surgical options depending on your interests.
Southern Cross Healthcare Regions
Southern Cross Healthcare has hospitals across five regions - Auckland, Midlands, New Plymouth, Central and Southern. Most of these regions cover more than one hospital. If you would like to work at a specific hospital in a region, please include this in your cover letter to Southern Cross Healthcare. If you are flexible to work at any of the Southern Cross hospitals in a region, you can learn more about each facility if you are invited for an interview.
Southern Cross Healthcare Regional Breakdown
Auckland region
- Southern Cross North Harbour Hospital
- Southern Cross Brightside Hospital
- Southern Cross Auckland Surgical Centre
- Southern Cross Gillies Hospital
- Ormiston Hospital, Auckland (JV)
Midlands region
- Southern Cross Hamilton Hospital
- Southern Cross Rotorua Hospital
- Grace Hospital, Tauranga (JV)
New Plymouth region
- Southern Cross New Plymouth Hospital
Central region
- Southern Cross Wellington Hospital
- Crest Hospital, Palmerston North (JV)
- Manuka Street Hospital, Nelson (JV)
Southern region
- Southern Cross Christchurch Hospital
- Southern Endoscopy Centre, Christchurch (JV)
- Invercargill
*JV refers to Southern Cross Healthcare joint venture hospitals
More Information Regarding Southern Cross Healthcare NETP Programme
You can visit Southern Cross Healthcare website for more information or contact the NETP co-ordinator: Julie Hedley - New Graduate RN Programme Co-ordinator Email: Julie.Hedley@southerncrosshospitals.co.nz
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Applying to New Entry to Specialist Practice (NESP)
To apply for NESP, simply rank Mental Health and Addictions as a practice setting preference. The programme supports nurses new to Mental Health and Addiction services to develop their professional practice while developing the specific skills required for the specialty field of Mental Health and Addictions nursing. Full information on the programme can be found here at the Te Pou website.
How to apply for a NESP position
- Register with ACE and complete your application in the normal way on the ACE application website once it opens.
- Navigate to the Preferences section, follow instructions and choose your employers in order of preference.
- You will then need to choose your preference of practice setting. For NESP you should choose “Mental Health and Addiction” as your first choice to have the best chance of securing a graduate position. If you have other specialties you are interested in, you should also make a second and third choice.
As part of your application you will be asked to select up to 5 practice preferences. Within the list of specialties available you will see a specific option available Mental Health & Addictions and you should select this as one of your 5 preferences, in the order in which you would like to have your application considered.
In your cover letter you can give more detail about the exact area you would like to work in and employers will work to identify potential employment opportunities for new graduates.
During your interview with potential employers you will be given an opportunity to discuss in more detail the exact practice settings available within that organisation and which of these you feel you are best suited to.
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Applying to Primary Health Care Positions
You can apply to both NETP and NESP programmes through ACE and you can apply for Primary Health Care positions through ACE.
Primary Health Care positions include the following
- Practice Nursing
- GP Clinics
- Accident & Medical Centres
- Iwi Providers
- Pacific Providers
- School Nursing
- Well Child Tamariki Ora providers (e.g. Plunket)
- NGO's
- Hospice
As part of your application you will be asked to select up to 5 practice preferences. Within the list of specialties available you will see a specific option available Primary Health Care and you should select this as one of your 5 preferences, in the order in which you would like to have your application considered.
In your cover letter you can give more detail about the exact primary care setting you would like to work in and employers will work with local Primary Health Care providers to identify potential employment opportunities for new graduates.
During your interview with potential employers you will be given an opportunity to discuss in more detail the exact practice settings available within that organisation and which of these you feel you are best suited to. If Primary Health Care providers advertise for new graduate registered nurse positions you can still apply for these directly to them, outside of the ACE process.
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Applying to Aged Residential Care Positions
Within the list of specialties available you will see a specific option for Aged Residential Care and if you are interested in working within this area, you should select this as one of your 5 preferences, in the order in which you would like to have your application considered.
In your cover letter you can give more detail about the exact aged residential care setting you would like to work in and employers will work with local Aged Residential Care providers to identify potential employment opportunities for new graduates.
During your interviews with potential employers you will be given an opportunity to discuss in more detail the exact practice settings available within that organisation and which of these you feel you are best suited to. If Aged Residential Care providers advertise for new graduate registered nurse positions you can still apply for these directly to them, outside of the ACE process.
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Applying to Department of Corrections
Applying to Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa) Instructions
When you complete your ACE application, you'll need to indicate your preferred employer(s) to complete your application. Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa) regions will be listed as options in the employer preferences dropdown menu, along with all other participating employers.
Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa) will be divided into six regions as stipulated below. Each region will encompass multiple sites and correctional facilities. For details on the regions involved in this intake, please check the Vacancy and Positions Information section on the ACE Website or the Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa) NETP careers website.
Practice Settings for Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa)
At the outset, Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa) will exclusively provide a NETP program for the End of Year 2024 intake. Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa) will present NETP positions in the Medical practice setting, which you can designate in the practice setting preference section of your application's dropdown menu. If you're keen on a NESP position, you must submit your application through Health New Zealand districts.
Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa) Regions
There are six regions available for selection: Northland, Auckland, Midland (Waikato & Bay of Plenty), Taranaki/Whanganui & Manawatū, Wellington, and Southern (Canterbury & Otago/Southland). Since these regions encompass multiple corrections facilities, it's advisable to be flexible about your specific location.
NETP placements may be offered at any of the sites and correctional facilities within the chosen region. If you select Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa) as your employer preference and receive an interview invitation, you can discuss your site preferences with the interview panel. If you are only able to work at a particular site within the region, make sure to mention this in your cover letter to Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa).
Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa) Regional Breakdown
- Northland
- Auckland
- Midland (Waikato & Bay of Plenty)
- Taranaki/Whanganui & Manawatū
- Wellington
- Southern (Canterbury & Otago/Southland)
More Information Regarding Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa) NETP Programme
You can visit our Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa) careers website: https://careers.corrections.govt.nz/ for more information or contact our national recruitment adviser Raewyn Hunn via email: Raewyn.Hunn@corrections.govt.nz.
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Applying to Evolution Healthcare
Instructions for Applying to Evolution Healthcare
When filling out your ACE application, you will have the opportunity to select your preferred employers. Among the options in the dropdown menu, you'll find Evolution Healthcare’s hospitals listed, along with other participating employers. Evolution Healthcare's facilities are divided into three regions: Wellington, Hastings and Hamilton. For detailed information about the hospitals participating in this intake, please visit the Vacancy and Positions Information section on the ACE website or check the Evolution Healthcare website.
Practice Settings at Evolution Healthcare
Currently, Evolution Healthcare only offers the NETP program. If you are interested in NESP positions, you will need to explore opportunities with Health New Zealand districts that have these positions available in the current intake.
Evolution Healthcare provides positions in Perioperative (Theatre) and Surgical practice settings. These options can be selected in the preferences section of your ACE application. If you are interested in working with Evolution Healthcare, be sure to choose either Perioperative and/or Surgical options according to your interests.
Locations of Evolution Healthcare Facilities
You can choose from three regions: Wellington (which includes Bowen and Wakefield Hospitals), Hastings (Royston Hospital) or Hamilton (Anglesea Hospital). If you are applying for a position in Wellington, please be prepared to work at either hospital within the region.
If you are invited for an interview after choosing Evolution Healthcare as your employer preference, you can discuss your location preferences with the interview panel. If you have a strong preference for one hospital over the other, make sure to mention this in your cover letter.
Breakdown of Evolution Healthcare Regions
Wellington Region:
- Evolution Healthcare Wakefield Hospital
- Evolution Healthcare Bowen Hospital
Hawke’s Bay / Hastings Region:
- Evolution Healthcare Royston Hospital
Waikato / Hamilton Region:
- Evolution Healthcare Anglesea Hospital
Additional Information on Evolution Healthcare's NETP Program
For further details, please visit the Evolution Healthcare website or reach out to the Program Project Manager: Lael Meredith Email: NETP@evolutioncare.com
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Applying to St. George's Hospital (Health New Zealand - Waitaha Canterbury only)
To apply for a position with St George's Hospital, please select Health New Zealand - Waitaha Canterbury and Surgical as your practice setting preferences, you should select this as one of your 5 preferences, in the order in which you would like to have your application considered.
In your Cover Letter you can give more detail about St. George's Hospital and employers will work with them to identify potential employment opportunities for new graduates.
During your interview you will be given an opportunity to discuss in more detail the exact practice settings available within that employer’s area and which of these you feel you are best suited to.